The Edo Carnival 2026 is targeting close to 100,000 participants and more than ₦1 billion in economic activity, Edo Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, has said.
Okoebor, Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Planning Committee for the carnival, spoke on the sidelines of the Edo Carnival 2026 press conference in Lagos, saying the event is being positioned as a long-term cultural and economic brand for the state.
He said the maiden edition of the carnival, held in 2025, attracted more than 10,000 people and provided an early indication of its economic potential.
According to him, the 2025 edition featured more than 1,000 parade participants and 27 costume types, with Edo-based tailors producing costumes and footwear for the event.
He added that more than 500 food-selling centres operated during the maiden edition, creating opportunities for local businesses and young people.
Okoebor said the 2026 edition was designed to develop the carnival into a long-term cultural brand capable of attracting tourists, creatives, businesses and investors. “The bigger picture is that we want this carnival to continue for the next 10 years, 20 years, 30 years,” he said.
He said the projected economic activity would benefit hotels, restaurants, transportation, fashion, food, entertainment and other businesses supporting the carnival.
Okoebor said the Edo Government was focused on ensuring that the carnival created tangible opportunities for young people and businesses.
“We are not just looking at the number of people that come. We are looking at how much money is going into the hands of our young people.”
He said the 2025 edition was solely supported by private-sector organizations, with no financial burden on the state government. Okoebor expressed confidence that additional partnerships would strengthen the 2026 carnival.
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Also, the Edo Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chris Okaeben, said the carnival was designed to showcase the state’s culture while creating opportunities within the creative economy.
Okaeben said culture was more than entertainment, describing it as a means of transferring knowledge and identity from one generation to another.
He said Edo’s food, fashion, hair, festivals, arts and heritage could attract visitors and strengthen the state’s position as a tourism destination. Okaeben added that the state was seeking to build a stronger destination identity through the carnival.
He said the 2026 edition would provide more opportunities for young people and creatives across different areas of the cultural and entertainment industry.
Carnival Consultant, Sophie Udoh, said the carnival was being developed as a long-term brand that could continue for years.
Udoh said the organizers had identified community participation as one of the major challenges from the 2025 edition.
She said the 2026 carnival would introduce an open band to allow more people to participate directly in the street parade.
She added that the bands would become more dynamic, with each expected to tell a distinct story through costumes and representation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2026 edition of the annual fiesta, themed ‘The Spirit of Edo,’ is scheduled to hold from Dec. 13 to Dec. 26. The carnival is being organized by the state government with the support of Peak Rendezvous Global.
The event will feature pre-carnival and carnival activities, including registration, tours, auditions, the opening of the carnival village, trade fairs and exhibitions, medical outreach, parade and band competitions.
NAN
